Famous quote by Hunter S. Thompson

"The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason"

About this Quote

Hunter S. Thompson’s words paint a stark and unflattering portrait of the television industry, stripping away any illusions of glamour or principled intent. The comparison to a “cruel and shallow money trench” evokes an environment motivated by profit at the expense of integrity, where ethical considerations are frequently sidelined. By calling it a “money trench through the heart of the journalism industry,” Thompson suggests that the very essence of journalism, once associated with ideals such as truth, accountability, and public service, has been violated and corrupted by television’s commercial imperatives.

The metaphor of the “long plastic hallway” accentuates the artificiality and superficiality Thompson perceives within the television world. Plastic, a synthetic and unyielding material, becomes emblematic of how manufactured, staged, or hollow the culture of TV can be, lacking the substance or authenticity one might expect from what's supposed to inform and enrich the public. The hallway, long and seemingly endless, might symbolize the relentless grind intrinsic to the industry, a place from which escape or redemption are next to impossible.

More scathingly, Thompson’s depiction of television as a realm “where thieves and pimps run free” casts the leadership and key figures in a damning light. The use of such sordid archetypes implies predation, manipulation, and a disregard for moral codes. In this landscape, those who cling to their principles, “good men”, are destined to be casualties, dying “like dogs, for no good reason.” The juxtaposition of nobility and futility underscores the sense that decency not only goes unrewarded but is actively punished in a system designed to benefit the unscrupulous.

Thompson’s language encapsulates disillusionment with the transformation of journalism under the influence of television, warning of the dangers that arise when profit motives overpower the foundational ethics of the profession. The result is an industry hollowed out, hostile to virtue, and dominated by those willing to exploit the medium and its audience alike.

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About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Hunter S. Thompson between July 18, 1937 and February 20, 2005. He/she was a famous Journalist from USA. The author also have 25 other quotes.
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